Renewal
Renew Your Service

Be Like Christ in His Service

Sunday February 19, 2023 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Mark 10:35-51

THE MESSAGE

In this message I will share with you that the way to be first and become great is to serve first. At the end of the sermon I will share with you what you should ask of Jesus to be first and to become great in the kingdom of God.

THE SCRIPTURE

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. -Mark 10:45

CONTEXT

ASKING TO BE THE FIRST AND TO BECOME GREAT

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." -Mark 10:35

1. Whatever we ask
   1. James and John asked for three things -prominence, position, power.
   2. James and John talked their mother into making the case for them. (Matthew 20:20)

And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" -Mark 10:36

1. What do you want?
   1. James and John wanted the throne that Jesus promised.
   2. There are thrones waiting for them when Jesus appears in glory. (Matthew 19:28)

They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." -Mark 10:37

1. We may sit
   1. Position nearest to Jesus, sit with Him on the left and the right
   2. Nothing wrong with sitting near Jesus
   3. James and John were asking something Jesus had promised, "You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones..." (Matthew 19:28b)

ASKING THE RIGHT THING IN THE WRONG WAY

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" -Mark 10:38

1. You do not know what you ask
   1. Jesus saw the cross He had to carry.
   2. James and John were ignorant of the cost.

They said to Him, "We are able." -Mark 10:39a

1. James and John saw the throne.
2. They did not see the price of the throne.

So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." -Mark 10:39b-40

1. The cup and the baptism
   1. Jesus did not rebuke their ambition for prominence, position, and power; the throne comes with these.
   2. But it also comes with the cross and the dying.
   3. James was the first of the disciples to die and John was the last.
2. Not Mine to give
   1. It will be given to those who are prepared for it.
   2. God will choose somebody for this honor.

WHY DIDN'T I THINK ABOUT IT FIRST?

And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. -Mark 10:41

1. Greatly displeased
   1. The disciples also wanted what the first disciples (James and John) wanted.
   2. The disciples were greatly displeased because the first two beat them to it.

FIRST SERVE: THE WAY TO BE FIRST AND TO BECOME GREAT

People first and then the event

1. Jesus prepares people first before the event.
2. The Cup: Drinking the cup of suffering and pain comes before the glory.
3. The Baptism: Carrying the cross and dying to self comes before sitting on the throne.

Authority

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them." -Mark 10:42

1. Lord it over them: Do not measure your authority by how many people are under you.

"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." -Mark 10:43

1. It shall not be so among you: Christ is the Head of the Church. "One is your Master, and all you are brethren." (Matthew 23:8)
2. Shall be your servant: In the kingdom of God, there is not to be striving for control and authority over others.

"And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all." -Mark 10:44

1. Slave of all: Christ is the master of your life. Be willing to meet the needs of others just as Jesus did for all.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." -Mark 10:45

1. Did not come to be served, but to serve
   1. The One who owns everything gave up everything to serve others.
   2. The key to service is to meet another person's needs.
2. To give His life a ransom for many
   1. Jesus died for us to bring us out to the other side-to resurrection and eternal life.

WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS TO DO FOR YOU?

...As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more...So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him,"Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." -Mark 10:46-51

Lesson from Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus

• 1. Jesus heals Bartimaeus ("Son of honor") the blind beggar.
  • a. What did James and John want? Honor; and here's a lesson...
• 2. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked the same question to James, John and Bartimaeus.
  • a. James and John wanted to sit on thrones with Jesus, on His left and right.
  • b. Bartimaeus wanted to see, He did NOT ask for a throne.
• 3. Ask God to open your eyes to see what you are asking for.
  • a. Be the first in seeing the needs of others
• 4. Ask God to reveal to you the cost of what you are asking.
  • a. Be the first in meeting the needs of others.
• 5. The way to be first and to become great is through service-seeing and meeting the needs of others.